Frequently asked questions for Summer School 12 - 17 years

Your German language summer school

Registration - Visa information

Which age group? Which school?

ActiLingua Academy offers a wide range of courses the whole year round for adults aged 16 and over. If you can already speak some German, there are German courses for you starting every Monday. Courses for beginners start every four weeks. Starting dates: total beginners Young adults between 16 and 19 years are welcome at our Holiday course. Young people aged between 12 and 17 are welcome at our Summer School.

Young people aged 12 to 17 years are accomodated in spacious two to six-bedrooms in the school residence directly on the campus of the summer school. By this we can provide optimal care.

Where is the school and what are the facilities like?

The Vienna-Centre Summer School is ten minutes' walk from the city centre and is right next to an underground station (U1, Taubstummengasse). The school boasts spacious grounds with tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, a large football pitch and a barbecue area. Indoor recreation rooms and sports halls are also available.

When should I register?

As our courses are often oversubscribed students should register as soon as possible. The earlier we receive your application, the easier it is for us to meet your wishes in terms of accommodation and courses. We also make every effort to fit in last minute bookings - just send us a registration form. Should you need a Visa for Austria, please ensure that you leave enough time to complete the relevant paper work.

Is medical insurance included in the price?

Medical insurance is obligatory for all students. Since EU citizens are automatically insured in Austria (the requisite EU form 111 or your "European Medical Insurance Card" are available from your health insurance carrier: we require a copy of the policy) medical insurance is not automatically included in the package. If you wish to take out health insurance in Vienna direct, you can do so on the day of your arrival as follows. Costs for insurance.

Are the costs for public transport included in the price?

Young people up to the age of 14 (don't forget to bring identification with you!) may travel on the Vienna transport network for free of charge in July and August. Older participants have to pay for their public transport ticket (EUR 17,10 per week) at registration in Vienna.

Can 11 year-olds attend the ActiLingua Summer School 12-17?

In general, the minimum age for students at our Summer School is 12 years. In special cases, we accept students aged 11 on request as long as the parent or legal guardian confirms in writing that they accept unlimited responsibility for the young person for the full duration of his/her stay. Consent form The rooms are shared with older students of 12 to 17 years and the lessons take place in groups with participants of different ages. The students are supervised 24/7 by our teachers.

German Courses

How many students are in one group and what form does the teaching take?

Lessons are in small groups (max. 15 participants), from Monday to Friday. Students practice grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and oral comprehension in systematically structured lessons. Emphasis is placed on language in real-life situations outside the school, communication and language games and work in groups and pairs.

What's the timetable like?

All students have lessons Monday to Friday from 09:00 am until 12:20 pm. Students in Summer Course 2 have two lessons in the afternoon, from 01:30 pm until 03:00 pm.

How are students allocated to the right course?

Each student receives an assessment test at the time of registration. The test must be returned two weeks before the German course starts at latest in order to ensure that the student is allocated to the right course level. Otherwise, it can happen that students miss the classes on the first day. The test takes approximately 60 minutes to complete. Naturally, and it is only useful to us, if the student completes it alone, without help. On the day of arrival, there is a short oral assessment test.

Which teaching materials / books do you use in the lessons?

The book "Planet" (Hueber Verlag) is used in conjunction with authentic teaching materials such as newspaper and magazine articles, audio-visual materials, and activities inside and outside the classroom.

What qualifications do the teachers have?

Our teachers speak standard German as their mother tongue and have a teaching qualification as well as experience in working with young people. They are highly qualified and regularly attend training courses held by ActiLingua.

Will there be homework?

A small amount of homework is given, which however is game-like in character and can be done in groups. If a student needs any special help (e.g. with written expression) the teacher can give him/her individual additional homework.

Accommodation

Do students with the same mother tongue share rooms?

If explicitly requested (please indicate on the registration form under the "special requests" or "comments" section!), this is possible. In general, we try to put students of the same age but different nationalities together.

Are girls and boys accommodated in seperate rooms?

Of course! Girls and boys are accommodated in separate rooms and floors.

How many students are there to a room?

Students staying at the Summer School Residence share spacious rooms with four to six beds. Students at the Summer School Residence Superior stay in comfortable three-bedrooms with own bathroom. The section is freshly renovated, and very bright and nicely furnished.

When do you find out how many beds there are in your room?

Room allocations are announced on the day of arrival. Special wishes regarding roommates will be taken into account as far as possibl.

Where are the showers and toilets?

At the Summer School Residence the shower rooms are always located on the same floor, close to the room. There are separate facilities for boys and girls. Superior rooms feature their own shower. The toilet is located in the corridor.

How about catering?

All students receive full-board (international and Austrian food). For breakfast there is a substantial buffet, with bread, sliced sausage, cheese and jam as well as tea, coffee or cacao. Lunch is always a three-course meal with starter, hot main dish and dessert. With the exception of some excursion days there is always warm food in the evenings. Sometimes there are grills and barbecues. All meals are self service and all students can go back for extra helpings. Vegetarian and halal food is available on request. Please tell us about any special dietary requirements when you apply.

When is lights-out?

In the summer school lights-out is as at 10:00 pm for 12-14 year-olds, and 11:00 pm for 15-17 year-olds.

Culture and leisure programme

Which leisure activities is included in the price?

Our daily afternoon and evening programme are included in the price. Leisure programme activities include sports, quizzes, craft work, dance workshops, trips to Vienna in the afternoon and evening, and our popular student disco on campus. The students of the summer school are supervised 24 hours a day by teachers living on campus.

Which extra activities can I book?

On arrival day it is possible to book the following activities in addition to the daily leisure programme: tennis, cultural programme, full- and half-day excursions (e.g. to Mozart's home town of Salzburg, to the Rosenburg renaissance palace, to the scenic Wachau area or the beautiful Lake Neusiedl), or a attend a concert or musical. Below are some examples of prices (extras).

Do some of the activities clash?

The extra activities are so organized that students can take part in all of them concurrently.

Is participation in the leisure programme compulsory?

We do our utmost to put on a varied leisure programme and mostly have a number of activities on offer at the same time. However, participation in the programmes is not compulsory. Students wishing to leave campus unaccompanied by an ActiLingua staff member require written parental permission.

Vienna & Travel

Is a transfer service provided upon arrival and departure?

Transfers are possible to/from the railway station or the airport. Please indicate the precise arrival time and flight/train number. At the time of arrival, a driver holding a sign bearing the student's name will be waiting for him/her on the station platform or in the airport arrivals hall. The student will then be taken to the registration office on campus.

Departing students will be taken to the departure hall at airport/train station by a driver of our transfer organization. You have the possibility to book "Escort service" with us, which means that the student will be taken directly to the correct platform at the railway station or to the airline Check-In. Please note that students under the age of 14 are not allowed to travel alone and need "Escort service" by the airline, which has to be booked by the airline directly. If "UM-Service" is booked through the airline, the UM-Service has also to be booked through ActiLingua. Cost of transfer service.

When should I turn up at campus on arrival day?

Students arrive on Sunday. Students and parents are expected to arrive between 9 am and 5 pm. We require prior notice from students who are scheduled to arrive after 5 pm so that we can make sure that the hall of residence door is open and that dinner is reserved for them.

What's on the programme on the day of arrival?

First of all, each student has to register at reception. Then you are given lunch or a snack, and go to your room. Students who have not returned an aptitude test are required to complete a short assessment test. All students take part in a short oral assessment talk, as well.

May students leave the campus on their own?

Written permission from the student's parents entitles him/her to leave the campus unaccompanied until 6 pm (afternoons) or until 9 pm (students aged up to 15) or 10 pm (students aged 16). Students who do not have permission to leave the campus alone can take part in off-campus group activities with an ActiLingua teacher several times a week.

May students be picked up by grown-up friends or acquaintances?

Of course, provided that they have their parents' permission. The student and the adult responsible for him/her should report to the school management when leaving and returning.

How much spending money does a student need per week?

The amount of pocket money you bring with you depends on what you are used to. However, we would recommend slightly more pocket money than at home - at least EUR 40 per week for telephone calls, travel and admission tickets.

Is it possible to deposit valuables with course management for safe keeping?

Cash, air tickets and passports should be deposited with the course manager for safe keeping. There is "bank" twice a week when students can withdraw their pocket money. Rooms cannot be locked, but each student has his/her own lockable cupboard.